Truss.



JOHN H. WINDISCH, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

i TRUss.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

Application led October 14, 1907. Serial No. 397,429.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN H. WINDIsoH, a citizen of the United States, residinOF at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trusses; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in trusses.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of truss having means whereby the same may be adjusted to the desired position, and means to hold the tiiuss in lace without the ncessity of emoying t e usual su ortin arness.

p With this objectpiiil viexgv, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended clalms.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of a truss constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a rear view Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view; Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view; and Fig. 5 1s a detail perspective view ofthe pad block.

In the embodiment of the invention, I provide a main supporting bar, 1, which is formed of sprin metal, and, if desired, may be constructed in the form of leaves, whereby the spring or resilient quality of the bar is increased. In each end of the bar 1 is formed a slot, or opening, 2, in which are secured the ends oi a supporting strap or belt, 8. Arranged on the inner side of the bar 1, to one side ofthe center of the same, is a vertically disposed cross bar, 4, said bar being provided with a vertically disposed slot, 5, in which is arranged a fastening nut, 6. The nut 6 is provided on its opposite side edges with guide notches, 7, which engagevthe opposite edges of the slot, 5, as shown. The nut, 6, is adapted to be'engaged by a clamping screw, 8, which is passed through the bar 1 and screwed into the nut 6, thus clamping or binding the same into en agement with the inner side of the bar 4, t ereby adjustably securing the same to the bar 1. The cross bar 1 is further held in sliding engagement with the bar l and prevented from'turning thereon by means of guide plates, 9, which are riveted or otherwise secured to the inner side of the bar 1 and are provided on tate of v or more spring metal leaves, and between the their inner ends with right-angularly bent guide ilanges, 10, between which the bar 4 is adapted to slide.

The bar, 4, may also be constructed of one outer side of the bar 4, and the inner side of the bar 1, is arranged a spring metal plate, 12, the upper and lower ends of which are bent inward into engagement with the outer side of the bar 4, as shown. The plate 12 serves to brace the bar 4'when the truss is arranged in operative positionon the body of upper end of the cross bar 4 is a body-engag-V ing late, 13, said plate beingslightly curved to `t the body of the wearer, and has its opposite ends bent outwardly to a slight degree so that when the truss is in position, said ends will lie fiat against the body and will be prevented from being pushed or forced inwardly. The opposite or lower end of the cross bar 4 is bent inwardly and on said inwardly bent end is pivotally lnounted a pad block, 14, which may be or' any suitable shape and constructed of any suitable material, the same being here shown and is preferably constructed of wood, and in circular form. The outer side of the block 14 is ilat and bears against the inner side of the bent end of the cross bar, 4, upon which it is adapted to be rotated. `The inner side ofthe block 14 is beveled as shown at 15, so that the block at one edge is considerably wider than at the op osite edge so that when the block is turne a greater or less amount of `pressure may be brought to bear upon any desired part of the rupture.

Adapted to be removably secured to the beveled inner side of the pad block 14, is a pad, 16, said pad being preferably formed of an inner layer of felt, 17, which is of slightly less diameter than the block. Over the felt layer is arranged two or more layers, 18, of cloth or other suitable material. The layers 18 are of greater diameter than the pad block, and the edges of the layers are adapted to be turned down over the outer sides'of the block, and over said turned down edges is placed a clamping ring or band, 19, whereby said layers are firmly held in position, and removably secured to the block. By constructing the pad as herein shown and described, the same may be quickly and easily removed and replaced by another.

A truss constructed as herein shown and described may be supported in position upon the body ofthe wearer without the necessity of using the usual shoulder straps and supporting harness, thus providing a perfectly sanitary truss, the ad of which may berenewed as frequent y as desired. The arrangement of the cross bar 4, on which the pad is secured, to4 one side ofthe center ofthe main supporting bar 1, enables the pad to be engaged with a rupture on either side, and by forming the pad block with a beveled or inclined outer surface and pivotally mounting the s-ameon the end of the cross bar 4, the

pad may be turnedto any desired position to bring the greatest pressure of the pad on the parts aiected. A In applying the truss, the longer end of the bar l projects toward the side of the body opposite to that in which the rupture is located, thus bringing the bar l over the center 'of the abdomen. By loosening the screw, 8, the bar, l, may be reversed to bring its longer end on the opposite side of the cross bar, 4, thereby adapting the truss for use on right or left ruptures. A

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. A truss comprising a main supporting bar formed of a series of spring metal leaves, a spring metal cross bar having formed therein a vertically kdisposed slot, a clamping screw, a combined guiding and clamping nut on said screw, said nut having notched edges adapted to engage the edges of the slot in said cross bar, whereby the latter is guided and locked in its adjusted position, substantially as described.

2. A truss comprising a main sup orting bar formed of a series of spring metal}leaves, a spring metal cross bar having formed therein a vertically disposed slot, a brace plate arranged between said main supporting bar and said cross bar, flanged guide plates secured to said main bar and adapted to engage the edges of said cross bar, a clamping screw arranged in said main bar and projecting through said brace plate and the slot in said cross bar, a combined guiding and clamping nut on said screw, said nut being adapted to enter and engage the edges of the slot in said cross bar, whereby the latter is guided in its movement and locked in its adjusted position, substantially as described.

3. Atruss comprising a main, spring metal, supporting bar, a supporting strap connected to the opposite ends of said bar, a slotted cross bar arranged on said main supporting bar, a guide nut adapted to be engaged with the slot in said cross bar, a clam ing screw to engage said nut and thereby agjustably secure said cross bar to the main supporting bar, means to guide said cross bar and prevent the same from turning on the main bar, a brace plate arranged between said cross bar and the main supporting bar, a bodyengaging plate on the upper end of said bar, a pivotally mounted pad block on the lower end 'of said bar, and a removable pad adapted to be secured to the outer side of said block, substantially as described.

4. A truss comprising a spring metal supporting bar, across bar adj ustably secured to said main bar, a curved body-engaging plate secured to the upper end of said cross bar, al

pad block revolubly mounted on the'lower end of said bar, said block having a beveled outersurface whereby one side ofthe same is thicker than the o` posite side, a pad formed of a plurality of ayers adapted to be arranged on the inner beveled side of the block, and a clamping ring adapted to be engaged with said layers to removably secure the same to the pad block, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN H. WINDISCH. Witnesses:

FRED. E. MCGILL, JOHN R. BOWLAND. 

